Ashmore Reef
- ISS004-E-8489
- 11 March 2002
- 05:33 UTC
Ashmore Reef is a large platform reef of 227 km², consisting of an atoll-like structure with three low, vegetated islands, numerous banks of shifting sand and two large lagoon areas. The surrounding reef consists of a well-developed reef crest — most prominent on the south and east sides — and a broad reef flat that can be up to 3 km across. Along the edge of this reef flat area are large areas of drying sand that become exposed at low tide, particularly along the southern side. Water depth within the lagoon is highly variable, ranging from extremely shallow around the sand banks and up to 45 m in the deeper areas.
The three islands located within the lagoon — West Island (32 ha), East Island (16 ha), and Middle Island (13 ha) — are mostly flat, being composed of coarse sand with a few areas of exposed beachrock and limestone outcrops. West Island is the largest of the islands being about 1 km long. All of the islands are vegetated with shrubs and herbs. Ashmore Reef is protected as the Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve (583 km²)
Ashmore Reef serves as an important breeding site for seabirds such as the Common Noddy (Anous stolidus), Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata), Bridled Tern (Sterna anaethetus) and Crested Tern (Sterna bergii). In all, 20 species are known to breed on the islands. Many other bird species use the reef as a stop over point on migrations to and from the north — such as the Ruddy Turnstone (), Eastern Curlew (Arenaria interpres) and Mongolian Plover (Charadrius mongolus). The reef also provides habitat to a diverse marine fauna that includes Dugong (Dugong dugon), Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta), Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), and an important and unique population of sea snake species — some of which are endemic to the area.
